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Automotive News & Views Should cell phone drivers be singled out?
3688 messages, Last post on Oct 27, 2009 at 11:39 AM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: tpe (Oct 18, 2006 6:54 am) Thats why we have hair dryers with warnings not to use in the shower. Or why my iron came with a warning not to iron my cloths when they were on my body (makes me wonder if its ok to iron them if they are on someone elses body). And my favorite which I found on a bag of peanuts "This item contains peanuts, do not consume if you are allergic to peanuts". I truely rear for the republic. |
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Replying to: tpe (Oct 18, 2006 4:13 am) Indeed. Like my friend who got a broken leg and lots of other injuries on his bike when a 19 year old girl made a left turn right into his path..... while talking on her cell phone. Face it, the only reason people are defending cell phone usage while driving, is because THEY DO IT. And those claiming superior driving and multitasking skills, just remember; it only takes a second or two of inattention. Would you still be able to rationalize it away if you just took your eyes off the road for a couple seconds to answer a call, and ran over a six year old kid chasing a ball into the street? If you get a call, pull over. It's not that hard to do. If you can't, call them back at the next exit you get off. It can wait five minutes. 10 or 12 years ago, there were no cell phones, and we somehow managed to survive!
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The death toll from crashes caused by drivers talking on their wireless phones appears to be rising significantly as the devices become must-have accessories for many Americans. A study released today by Harvard University's Center for Risk Analysis estimates a rate of 2,600 deaths a year in such crashes, compared with the same researchers' estimate of 1,000 two years ago. The study also estimated that 570,000 injuries a year and 1.5 million crashes resulting in property damage can be blamed on wireless phone use. That seems pretty compelling. 
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Replying to: snakeweasel (Oct 18, 2006 6:54 am) I've done that most of my life. Very few laws are of any value if not enforced. Face it most are not. I believe forcing seatbelt and helmet laws on us is much more a violation of civil liberties than stopping people from using a cell phone that could cause others harm.
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Replying to: wideglide (Oct 18, 2006 7:17 am) Rocky
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Replying to: gagrice (Oct 18, 2006 7:41 am) If you don't buckle up, you're stupid...it's an easy equation.
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Replying to: rockylee (Oct 18, 2006 7:43 am) I estimate that in 2007 there will 1,000 more crashes caused by drivers thinking about their next post on Edmunds.com. For the calendar year 2006, I estimated that there would only be 500 more crashes caused by this. Obviously, crashes caused by distracted Edmunds.com posters are increasingly dramatically. Wow, I should apply for a job at Harvard...
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Replying to: grbeck (Oct 18, 2006 8:12 am)  I have no doubt you'd make a great professor.  Rocky |
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Replying to: tpe (Oct 18, 2006 5:50 am) I have made cell phone calls on interstates in the past. One was for viewing a single vehichle rollover accident in front of me (maybe 300-400 ft ahead) at 60-65 mph (dry road, daylight) and having to slow down and move around to avoid wreckage loose parts being dispersed over road surface. Many other times for encountering debris in road (truck tire carcasses, lumber pieces, etc.). The calls were to *99 emergency. I always get over to the right lane first and get to slower but not obstructing speed. I can sense that my attention is being diverted in order to compose my thoughts, communicate, give location, etc and can feel a little incapacitated. I would guess that a greater amount of my attention is being diverted from driving for these situations then if I were idley chatting (which I don't do) on the interstate with a friend about last night's playoff game. I would like to know how one can determine what part of the 100 percent attention can be diverted to a cell call and then how to actually apply. Can one control the percent of attention (5, 10, 50, etc) that will be applied to a cell call and the rest to driving? Does some one know how to do that? When someone is making a cell call, can any test instruments actually measure what amount of brain is directed to driving and what amount to the call? If there is such a device, would it not be interesting if it were found that vast amount of "attention" and brain were involved in the call and a lesser amount to driving. |
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Replying to: gagrice (Oct 18, 2006 7:41 am) Wonder if all those who are concerned with this matter would agree to an optional fee on their auto insurance premium. You could pay the standard amount or you could pay it plus an optional additional fee to cover medical fees for all those folks who don't wear belts/helmets for their "extra" injuries that could have been prevented. This optional amount could also help cover those injured in accidents caused by cell phone users. |
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